Grim Britannia

[craner]

I think the ultimate exemplar of consumerist freedom on Dissensus is Idlerich. More than any of the rest of us, he is extracting all the hedonistic juice out of our times.

 

[john eden]

the consumerist stuff under lockdown is interesting.

The puritan in me thinks that people are compensating for the lack of human contact by clicking at things on Amazon.

 

[luka]

A key development, one that Made in Chelsea constantly navigates, is about life totally mediated by, structured around and presented as images. This is where social media platforms have taken the aesthetic and political tools developed in the 80s and 90s to a new stage that has altered our sense of self.

this is what we were talking about earlier in the thread when you and vim disgnosed a desperate and revolutionary desire to smash the image and i agreed with your diagnosis. i thought it was astute.

 

[vimothy]

no I agree, obvs ppl are satisfying their desires, but why do those desires have this particular quality which the opposite of what you might naively expect from a society like this

 

[craner]

the consumerist stuff under lockdown is interesting.

The puritan in me thinks that people are compensating for the lack of human contact by clicking at things on Amazon.

Lots of people are losing their jobs and signing onto Universal Credit, but we also have huge pools of surplus wages for people who aren't filling up the car with petrol, eating out, flying to Ibiza. So they're spending it on shit from Amazon.

 

[luka]

we are living, as you put it, 'under the tyranny of the image.' and this is what makes our imaginary 1970s so appealing.

 

[craner]

this is what we were talking about earlier in the thread when you and vim disgnosed a desperate and revolutionary desire to smash the image and i agreed with your diagnosis. i thought it was astute.

I know, I ticked 'like'.

So touchy.

 

[luka]

I think the ultimate exemplar of consumerist freedom on Dissensus is Idlerich. More than any of the rest of us, he is extracting all the hedonistic juice out of our times.

clue's in the name

 

[vimothy]

presumably theres a lot of guilt lurking about in there

 

[john eden]

no I agree, obvs ppl are satisfying their desires, but why do those desires have this particular quality which the opposite of what you might naively expect from a society like this

I think we talked some years back about choice - and I think it's probably that. The intersection of consumer choice and humanity, for better or worse.

 

[craner]

Lots of people are losing their jobs and signing onto Universal Credit, but we also have huge pools of surplus wages for people who aren't filling up the car with petrol, eating out, flying to Ibiza. So they're spending it on shit from Amazon.

Sorry, that's banal, I'm just saying it's a schizo situation, this fantasy land that we are living in. The pandemic has heightened all these conflicts, pushed them over the edge.

 

[luka]

Lots of people are losing their jobs and signing onto Universal Credit, but we also have huge pools of surplus wages for people who aren't filling up the car with petrol, eating out, flying to Ibiza. So they're spending it on shit from Amazon.

it blows my mind thinking of all those people who have spent the last few months on paid holiday. they must have been having the time of their lives. i've loved it even with no money whatsoever. they must have been in a dreamland. all of them living like idlerich on cocaine, champagne and lobsters.

 

[luka]

presumably theres a lot of guilt lurking about in there

this is the thing about idlerich isn't it. that he at least presents himself as having no guilt. i not only have guilt but im tremendoulsy grateful for guilt as it's crucial kind of feedback and curb on my impulses. it seems to be an immensely valuable part of the circuit.

 

[vimothy]

it blows my mind thinking of all those people who have spent the last few months on paid holiday. they must have been having the time of their lives. i've loved it even with no money whatsoever. they must have been in a dreamland. all of them living like idlerich on cocaine, champagne and lobsters.

only if you have no children tho

 

[craner]

this is the thing about idlerich isn't it. that he at least presents himself as having no guilt. i not only have guilt but im tremendoulsy grateful for guilt as it's crucial kind of feedback and curb on my impulses. it seems to be an immensely valuable part of the circuit.

That's a result of being an infamous junk bond raider, though, isn't it? Rich made his millions working 20 hour shifts in the City and selling off blue collar workers, he paid his dues and now he can enjoy it, with no guilt.

 

[luka]

That's a result of being an infamous junk bond raider, though, isn't it? Rich made his millions working 20 hour shifts in the City and selling off blue collar workers, he paid his dues and now he can enjoy it, with no guilt.

it is. but i think in his shoes i would still feel guilt.

 

[luka]

well, guilt and perpetual unease, fear etc. im not trying to poison his joys btw. but if it was me something would revolt and spoil everything.

 

[craner]

it is. but i think in his shoes i would still feel guilt.

I don't think I would.

 

[craner]

I would become a famous art collector and set up a foundation. The Oliver Craner Wing of MoMA.

 

[luka]

I don't think I would.

i wonder. i think you're freer of those nagging voices than i am for sure. but not completely liberated. you start worrying about your gums and cholesterol. which is displaced guilt i think,